Electric time-switch.



E. C. APPLEGATE & O. SMILEY.

ELECTRIC UME swlrcH. l

Patented Dec. 18, 1917.'.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Illlllllllllll lll-l..- MWBMWKWWWW Il E. C. APPLEGATE 6L 0. SMILEY.

ELECTRIC TIME SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I7. |916.

Patented Dec. 18, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' on the line :v -a: of Fig. 2;

UNiTED STATES PATENT onirica,

EARL C. APPLEGATE AND ORVALL SMILEY, 0F INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA; SAID SMILEY ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, 0F HIS ONE-HALF TO SAID APPLEGATE.

ELECTRIC TIME-SWITQH.

To all whom z't may concern:

Be it known that we, EARL CLYDE APPLE- GA'rn and ORVALL SMILEY, citizens of the United States of America, and residents of Indianapolis in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Time- Switches, of which the following is a specification. y

This invention relates to'improvements in electric time switches and the objects thereof are: First, to afford a device that will automatically break an electrical current at a desired predetermined time accordingly as adjusted; second, to so construct the device that it may be utilized for closing an electrical circuit at a predetermined time accordingly as adjusted; and third, to construct the device so that it will indicate plainly its various stages of progress during -lts operation.

The objects of the lnvention are accomplished by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a plan view of the device;

Fig. 2 is a vertical central section of Fig. l; y

Fig.l 3 is a detailaview showing a modified form of the plunger stem and escapement valve, the stem being shown partially in section;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the device Fig. 5 1s a plan view showing avmodified form of the base which isused for closing the electrical circuit; and 4 Fig. 6 is a view of Fig. 5 in a plane at right angles thereto.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several secured in its top, the latter being held in place by a frame (C)y that is secured to the housing. Arranged within the housing adjacent the plate (B), is a base (D) made of suitable non-conducting material. Within Specication of Letters latent.

Patented Dec. 18, 1917.

Application led Aprili17, 1916. Serial No. 91,736.

the lower portion of the housing is a cylinder (E) having therein a plunger (F) that is secured to and moved by a stem (G). The plunger has a spring pressed check-valve (H) adapted for the passage of liquid from the upper end of the cylinder to the lower end, and has also an escapement-valve (J) for regulating t-he passageof liquid through Athe plunger from the lower end of the cylinder to the upper end. A coilspring (K) within the upper end of the cylinder bears downwardly against the plunger and tends to hold it in its lowermost position. An arm (L) is adjustably fixed on the stem (G) its outer end extending into a guide (M) that depends from the bottom of the base (D) and thus the stem is prevented Vfrom rotating.

An internally threaded hub (N) is loosely mounted upon the stem (G) which is threaded so as to engage the threaded hub, the threads being'of steep pitch. The hub (N) is held between two annular series of balls (P). that are confined in corresponding cups (Q), the latter being secured rigidly to the base. An index (R) is rigidly fixed to the hub and is turned thereby as the hub is actuated by the stem (G). upper face of the base in concentric relation with the hub is a contact ring (S) having a recess (S) made in its edge. The .index bears upon the upper edge of the ring and forms electrical contact therewith except when positioned at the recess (S). A stop (R) projects from the' base and extends within the path of t-he index and is adapted to arrest the movement of the index when the latter is moved to the recess.

A scale-ring (T) having an outer toothed periphery is movably mounted in the upper face of the base, and a pinion (T) is'arranged 1n the base and in constant mesh with the toothed ring so that as the pinion isl rotated the ring will accordingly be Secured upon the (T) by means of which it is manipulated. The scale rmg has upon lts outer face a series of characters,4 1, 2, 3, etc. equally spaced apart and signifying respectively the customary units of time, and the ring is retained in its location in the base by means 0f clips (U).

The stem (G) and stud (T) project through the end of the housing and are surmounted respectively by handles (Gr) and (V) by means of which they may be manipulated from the exterior of the housing. Also a screw-plug (W) is arranged in one wall of the housing in line with the screw (L) that binds the arm (L) upon the stem G) so that upon the removal of the plug access is gained to the screw (L).

In using the device thus constructed the cylinder (E) is filled with liquid such' as oil, and connection of the device is made with the lighting or other electric circuit the bolts (Y) and (Z) being used as termi- ,nals for the respective ends of the wire (no1 shown) that forms one of the two branches of the electric circuit. connection with the ring (S) and the bolt (Y) is electrically connected with the index (R) through the medium of the upper cup (P). It will therefore appear that when the index bears upon the ring (S) the electrical circuit will be closed and when the index is positioned at the recess (S) the circuit will be open. The ring is then set with the hour, at which time itis desired to break the circuit, positioned at the index when at the recess, and the stem (G) is then pulled out until the index reaches the hour that designates the present time. The index bearing against the ring (S) completes the circuit so that the current may flow throuo'h the device. The action of the spring (K forces the plunger against the fluid thatis trapped in the bottom of the cylinder, 'and as the oil oozes past the escapement-valve and enters the top of the cylinder, the plunger gradually retracts accordingly drawing the stem in its movement. Thus the index is gradually moved back to its normal position at the recess whereupon the electric circuit is broken. When thus operated one or more electric lamps may be lighted and kept burning until the predetermined time arrives at which time they become extinguished through the operation of the device.

Should it be desired to use the device for turning on the lights at a predetermined time instead of extinguishing them as in the former instance, the form of base shown in Fig. 5 is employed. In this instance two contact points (Z) are arranged in the base (D) and are intended for contact with the index when ythe latter reaches the stop (R) so that the electrical circuit when connected with the two contact points be- The bolt (Z) has,

comes completed by the index. In this form the operation is 'similar to the first instance but withthe concluding result of closing the open circuit instead of opening a closed tubular stem. Lateral ports (I.) are made in the walls of the stem at points adjacent the valve-seat so that the liquid may pass up through the lower end of the stem and become discharged from the ports as it is admitted by the valve.

1What we claim is:-

1. In a device of the class described, a housing, a base fixed thereon, a cylinder within the housing, a spring-pressed plunger in the cylinder having a threaded stem extending through the base and top of the housing and having also check and escapement valves for the passage therethrough of fluid from one end of the cylinder to the other, a hub having threaded relation with the stem and being rotatively mounted in connection with the base, an index fixed to the hub, means for preventing the stem from rotating, an electrical contact member j on the base adapted for engagement with the index, and an adjustable circular scale on the base in concentric relation with the stem.

2. In a device of the class described, a i

base, a closed cylinder arranged adjacent the base, a spring pressed reciprocating plunger in the cylinder having a threaded stem extending through the base, and having also check and eseapement valves for I an index extending therefrom, means for I holding the stem from rotating, and contact means upon the base for engagement with the index.

3. In a device of the classdescribed, a

housing having a base fixed thereon, a cylin- I der within the housing, ay spring pressed plunger in the cylinder having a stem extending f through the base to the exterior of the housing, a check-valve in the plunger for the passage therethrough I of fluid from one end of the cylinder to the other; an adjustable escapement valve adjustable scale on the base adjacent the adapted to regulate the return HOW of said index. fiuid through the plunger,arotatab1e indeX,a In testimony whereof We aHiX our signaquick actinghtlreai upn the) stern ofdsakid tures, in presence of tWo Witnesses. 5 lun er, a u a apte to e rotate y said gquick acting thread to actuate said rotatable index which is rigidly attached to said hub, electrical means adapted to make Witnesses: and break Contact With the index at fixed BAssIL B. YOUNG, 10 stages of the latter respectively, and an KATHERINE KEENE. 

